Department for International Development

Iraq: Kurds

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Centre of Iraq and the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre of the Kurdistan Regional Government are working productively together; and what recommendations they plan to make to those bodies in the light of that assessment.

Baroness Verma: The Joint Coordination and Monitoring Centre (JCMC) in Baghdad and Joint Crisis Centre (JCC) in Erbil were formally launched in July 2015. Since then, they have been meeting regularly, working closely together to plan for future humanitarian operations as well as coordinating support for those currently requiring assistance. We recognise the necessity of a cohesive, joined-up humanitarian response between the Government of Iraq and Kurdish Regional Government and have been a strong supporter of both organisations. This is underpinned by a £1 million UK contribution to UNDP to deliver a capacity building programme for the JCMC and JCC.In total, the UK has committed £79.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq since June 2014.

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the present situation of the Yezidis displaced from the Sinjar/Shengal region, irrespective of their current location; what proportion of those displaced are in camps; and what plans there are for protecting those outside camps during the winter.

Baroness Verma: UK aid is reaching thousands of vulnerable people across Iraq, include the most vulnerable groups, such as Yezidis. All UK-funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion or ethnicity. The UK works with the Government of Iraq, Kurdish Regional Government, UN and the international community to support the rights of all minorities and to ensure our aid reaches those in greatest need.Humanitarian actors have started the winterisation preparations. We regularly engage with the UN and other partners to ensure that the needs of those most requiring assistance are taken into account. As part of the humanitarian response in Iraq, populations outside of camps have been described as a priority target.DFID announced an additional £20 million of humanitarian funding for Iraq on 29 September, taking our total contribution to £79.5 million since June 2014.

Developing Countries: LGBT People

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Minister in the Department for International Development has responsibility for ensuring that the particular vulnerabilities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are addressed through international development.

Baroness Verma: I am the Minister in DFID who has responsibility for ensuring that the particular vulnerabilities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are addressed through international development.

Developing Countries: LGBT People

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for International Development has published a LGBTI Strategy; and if so, where and when.

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 17 September that the Department for International Development has a "refreshed approach to LGBTI matters" (HL Deb, col 2045), whether they will publish details of that new approach.

Baroness Verma: A note describing “DFID’s approach on LGBT rights” will be published on the UK Government website by the end of 2015.

Home Office

Domestic Violence

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 17 December 2014 (HL3284), whether the collection of consistent and comparable data on domestic abuse is now under way, and when they plan to publish the results.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 17 December 2014 (HL3284), what measures have now been put in place, in partnership with police forces, to enable the collection of consistent and comparable data on domestic abuse from April.

Lord Bates: All forces through the Annual Data Return must record and provide data on domestic abuse related crimes and incidents. The requirement is part of the Home Secretary’s commitment to take forward recommendations made by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in its report on the police response to domestic abuse published in March 2014. It came into force in April 2015 and the first findings from this collection will be published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in October as part of the quarterly Crime in England and Wales statistics publication. The Home Office is working with the ONS on the publication of more detailed data in future crime publications.

Criminal Proceedings

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to come forward with a Policing and Criminal Justice Bill; and whether that Bill will first be published in draft.

Lord Bates: The Policing and Criminal Justice Bill will be introduced later this session; the date of introduction will be confirmed in due course. Many of the provisions of the Bill have been subject to extensive consultation; accordingly the Bill will not be published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Ministry of Justice

Magistrates: Recruitment

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many lay magistrates were recruited in the last year for which figures are available, and what was the breakdown by ethnicity and gender.

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many lay magistrates were recruited in the last year for which figures are available for each decile by age.

Lord Faulks: A total of 403 magistrates were appointed in England and Wales between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015. A breakdown of those appointments can be found in the tables below:GenderMaleFemale158 (39%)245 (61%)EthnicityWhiteMixedBlackAsianChineseOther333 (83%)15 (4%)24 (6%)22 (5%)3 (>1%)6 (2%)Age18-2930-3940-4950-5960-6524 (6%)75 (19%)97 (24%)154 (38%)53 (13%)

Victims: Road Traffic Offences

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with regard to the proposal to extend the definition of "victim" to include all victims of criminal offences so that all victims of road traffic crime will qualify for the services provided under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, whether road crash victims will be treated as victims of road traffic crime from the time of the crash, or after a charge has been laid.

Lord Faulks: A person is entitled to receive services under the current Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) if they have made an allegation to the police that they have directly experienced criminal conduct or had an allegation made on their behalf.In the Government’s consultation, ‘Revising the Victims’ Code’, which closed on 16 August, we proposed to extend the services offered under the Victims’ Code to victims of any criminal offence, not just victims of the more serious criminal offences to which it currently applies. This broadening of the definition of victim would bring into scope victims of all road traffic crime.We will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Prisoners: Older People

Lord Trefgarne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 16 September (HL1895), how many male prisoners over the age of 80 who are currently serving prison sentences were over the age of 70 when sentenced.

Lord Faulks: As at 30 June 2015, of the 133 male prisoners over the age of 80 who are currently serving prisons sentences in England and Wales, 123 were sentenced when they were over the age of 70 years.

Department of Health

Anaemia

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to address the problems associated with the late diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, in the light of the results of the survey published in the British Nursing Journal in April 2014.

Lord Prior of Brampton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 24 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

It is important that patients suffering from pernicious anaemia, the result of a vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency, receive a prompt and appropriate diagnosis. Pernicious anaemia develops gradually, and can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, lethargy, feeling faint and headaches, which vary from patient to patient. Because of the gradual progression of the condition, the variety of symptoms, which are shared with a range of other conditions, diagnosis at early onset can be challenging.To support the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) has published Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, which sets out that cobalamin status is the recommended first line diagnostic test. However, the guidance states that there is no gold standard test for the condition and makes it clear that the clinical picture of a patient is the most important factor in assessing the significance of the test results. This means clinicians should take into account all of the symptoms the patent is experiencing, their medical history, age and other relevant factors when considering the implications of a patient’s cobalamin status. The BCSH guidance highlights the risk of neurological impairment if treatment is delayed. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England and produces evidence based guidelines for both clinical and laboratory haematologists on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease, drawing on the advice of expert consultants and clinical scientists practicing in the United Kingdom. It would be for the BCSH, not the Department, to consider whether any adjustments to current best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pernicious anaemia were needed, including whether any new or additional tests were appropriate. A copy of the BCSH guidance document has already been placed in the Library and is attached. More general clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of pernicious anaemia can also be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Knowledge Summaries website. This is a freely accessible online resource that covers the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia, as well as potential complications of the condition. In addition to this, NHS Choices provides similar, though less technical, information on pernicious anaemia for the public.



BCSH Guidelines pernicious anaemia
(PDF Document, 318.95 KB)

Lord Prior of Brampton: It is important that patients suffering from pernicious anaemia, the result of a vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency, receive a prompt and appropriate diagnosis. Pernicious anaemia develops gradually, and can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, lethargy, feeling faint and headaches, which vary from patient to patient. Because of the gradual progression of the condition, the variety of symptoms, which are shared with a range of other conditions, diagnosis at early onset can be challenging.To support the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) has published Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, which sets out that cobalamin status is the recommended first line diagnostic test. However, the guidance states that there is no gold standard test for the condition and makes it clear that the clinical picture of a patient is the most important factor in assessing the significance of the test results. This means clinicians should take into account all of the symptoms the patent is experiencing, their medical history, age and other relevant factors when considering the implications of a patient’s cobalamin status. The BCSH guidance highlights the risk of neurological impairment if treatment is delayed. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England and produces evidence based guidelines for both clinical and laboratory haematologists on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease, drawing on the advice of expert consultants and clinical scientists practicing in the United Kingdom. It would be for the BCSH, not the Department, to consider whether any adjustments to current best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pernicious anaemia were needed, including whether any new or additional tests were appropriate. A copy of the BCSH guidance document has already been placed in the Library and is attached. More general clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of pernicious anaemia can also be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Knowledge Summaries website. This is a freely accessible online resource that covers the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia, as well as potential complications of the condition. In addition to this, NHS Choices provides similar, though less technical, information on pernicious anaemia for the public.



BCSH Guidelines pernicious anaemia
(PDF Document, 318.95 KB)

Anaemia

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to alert medical practitioners to the severe and irreversible nerve damage that can occur when pernicious anaemia is misdiagnosed.

Lord Prior of Brampton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 24 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

It is important that patients suffering from pernicious anaemia, the result of a vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency, receive a prompt and appropriate diagnosis. Pernicious anaemia develops gradually, and can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, lethargy, feeling faint and headaches, which vary from patient to patient. Because of the gradual progression of the condition, the variety of symptoms, which are shared with a range of other conditions, diagnosis at early onset can be challenging.To support the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) has published Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, which sets out that cobalamin status is the recommended first line diagnostic test. However, the guidance states that there is no gold standard test for the condition and makes it clear that the clinical picture of a patient is the most important factor in assessing the significance of the test results. This means clinicians should take into account all of the symptoms the patent is experiencing, their medical history, age and other relevant factors when considering the implications of a patient’s cobalamin status. The BCSH guidance highlights the risk of neurological impairment if treatment is delayed. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England and produces evidence based guidelines for both clinical and laboratory haematologists on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease, drawing on the advice of expert consultants and clinical scientists practicing in the United Kingdom. It would be for the BCSH, not the Department, to consider whether any adjustments to current best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pernicious anaemia were needed, including whether any new or additional tests were appropriate. A copy of the BCSH guidance document has already been placed in the Library and is attached. More general clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of pernicious anaemia can also be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Knowledge Summaries website. This is a freely accessible online resource that covers the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia, as well as potential complications of the condition. In addition to this, NHS Choices provides similar, though less technical, information on pernicious anaemia for the public.



BCSH Guidelines pernicious anaemia
(PDF Document, 318.95 KB)

Lord Prior of Brampton: It is important that patients suffering from pernicious anaemia, the result of a vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency, receive a prompt and appropriate diagnosis. Pernicious anaemia develops gradually, and can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, lethargy, feeling faint and headaches, which vary from patient to patient. Because of the gradual progression of the condition, the variety of symptoms, which are shared with a range of other conditions, diagnosis at early onset can be challenging.To support the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) has published Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, which sets out that cobalamin status is the recommended first line diagnostic test. However, the guidance states that there is no gold standard test for the condition and makes it clear that the clinical picture of a patient is the most important factor in assessing the significance of the test results. This means clinicians should take into account all of the symptoms the patent is experiencing, their medical history, age and other relevant factors when considering the implications of a patient’s cobalamin status. The BCSH guidance highlights the risk of neurological impairment if treatment is delayed. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England and produces evidence based guidelines for both clinical and laboratory haematologists on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease, drawing on the advice of expert consultants and clinical scientists practicing in the United Kingdom. It would be for the BCSH, not the Department, to consider whether any adjustments to current best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pernicious anaemia were needed, including whether any new or additional tests were appropriate. A copy of the BCSH guidance document has already been placed in the Library and is attached. More general clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of pernicious anaemia can also be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Knowledge Summaries website. This is a freely accessible online resource that covers the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia, as well as potential complications of the condition. In addition to this, NHS Choices provides similar, though less technical, information on pernicious anaemia for the public.



BCSH Guidelines pernicious anaemia
(PDF Document, 318.95 KB)

NHS: Performance Standards

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when both Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority will publish the financial performance data for the first quarter of 2015–16 for NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority published the financial performance data for the first quarter of 2015-16 on Friday 9 October.The information can be accessed as follows:- Foundation Trusts, a copy of the report issued by Monitor is attached; and- NHS Trusts, NHS Trust Development Authority has released the report on its website only which can be accessed at:http://www.ntda.nhs.uk/blog/2015/10/09/nhs-trusts-financial-position-for-q1-of-201516/



Monitor Performance Report
(PDF Document, 1.16 MB)

NHS: Performance Standards

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Monitor and the Care Quality Commission apply a consistent approach in relation to safety, quality and financial requirements of NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Robert Francis’ second report into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust led to major changes in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) regulatory regime, and to Monitor’s and the NHS Trust Development Authority’s (NHS TDA) routine oversight of providers and assessment of aspirant foundation trusts. It has also resulted in closer working relationships between the three bodies responsible for regulation and oversight, particularly around the sharing of information and intelligence.The currentrelationship between the CQC and Monitor is set out in a Memorandum of understanding and Operational Annexes which are attached. These outline how the two organisations work together, including on safety and quality issues. This includes the co-ordination and sharing of information following a CQC inspection and CQC providing a briefing document for Monitor which includes a review of the provider’s compliance from a quality of care perspective. The Operational Annex also specifically states, ‘each organisation will openly share relevant information on safety, quality, financial and governance risks at a licenced provider where appropriate’.The Government sponsors each of the regulators, and provides stewardship of the health and care system as a whole, and in this role works with the regulators on an individual and collective basis to ensure that the regulatory system is as consistent and effective as possible. Both the Government and the system regulators are clear that it is in the interests of future care quality that the finances of acute trusts are healthy; and many of the improvements that are needed to improve quality of care will also improve efficiency.



Operational Annexes
(PDF Document, 304.08 KB)




Memorandum of understanding
(PDF Document, 147.72 KB)

NHS: Performance Standards

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they have given to acute trusts about how to respond to Care Quality Commission inspection report recommendations to increase staffing levels whilst meeting Monitor requirements to reduce spending.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government has been clear that acute trusts are responsible for delivering high quality care within available resources. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) looks at staffing levels as part of its rating of safety in its programme of comprehensive inspections. These assessments include ward level discussions of acuity levels and achievement of planned staffing levels. Where an acute trust is failing to use staff in the best way to support patient care, the CQC is right to make that public. Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority are responsible for ensuring that acute trusts are providing high quality care in a financially sustainable manner. It is in the interests of future care quality that the finances of acute trusts are healthy; and many of the improvements that are needed to improve quality of care will also improve efficiency.

Junior Doctors: Certification

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many junior doctors have applied for a Certificate of Good Standing from the General Medical Council in each year since 2005.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of how many junior doctors will apply for Certificates of Good Standing from the General Medical Council in each year up to 2020.

Lord Prior of Brampton: A Certificate of Good Standing is now called a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS).The Department does not hold information on the number of junior doctors that have applied for a CCPS and is unable to estimate how many junior doctors will apply for a CCPS.

Hospitals: Armed Forces

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance, if any, they give to hospitals about whether patients may wear military uniforms in waiting and emergency rooms; what assessment they have made of the recent removal of a uniformed Royal Air Force sergeant from the waiting room of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate reportedly so as not to upset other patients from different cultures; and whether they plan to issue further guidance to hospitals about whether, in the light of that incident, patients who are members of the armed forces have the right to wear military uniforms in waiting and emergency rooms.

Lord Prior of Brampton: NHS England has reviewed the action taken at East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Due to an altercation between a member of the public and a member of the armed forces in uniform that had taken place the previous day, the employee concerned was acting in good faith, but handled the situation wrongly.The Trust is absolutely clear that members of Her Majesty’s armed forces, whether in uniform or not, should not be treated differently to others. They have reinforced this policy to all members of staff and offered an apology to the patient involved for any embarrassment caused.Additionally, NHS England is currently reviewing the East Kent University Hospitals Trust’s Equality and Diversity and Access Policies and will agree amendments if necessary. There are no plans to issue further guidance.

Hospitals: Finance

Lord Sharkey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, before withdrawing supplementary funding for the highly specialist work carried out at tertiary and teaching hospitals in England, they carried out an impact assessment of the effects of such a withdrawal on medical research; if not, why they did not do so; and if so, whether they will publish that assessment.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The supplementary funding, known as Project Diamond funding, was provided by the former London Strategic Health Authority in recognition of arguments made by providers about the higher costs of tertiary and teaching hospitals both for research and service provision. The research component was subsequently taken on by the Department, and the service component was taken on by NHS England.In the case of research funding, the Department’s view is that the approach to funding already recognises the higher costs of providing services. For example, a large part of funding is bids based. In bidding for research funding, providers will have taken into account all the costs they face. Any supplementary funding would be double-counting costs. Consequently the Department does not expect an impact on medical research from withdrawing funding as existing funding streams should meet all costs.In the case of funding for specialised services to patients, 2014/15 was the final year of supplementary funding provided by NHS England. Refinements to the National Tariff are being made, including the introduction of HRG4+, that make a significant improvement in recognising the additional costs associated with patient complexity. However no payment system can perfectly reflect patient complexity and other local issues. Monitor have a published process for providers who wish to seek an amendment to tariff prices, known as the local modification process.

Cabinet Office

Vacancies

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 25 September (HL2301), how many job vacancies there were in each of the industries covered in the most recent Vacancy Survey.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



Excel Attachment for PEER
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.38 KB)




UKSA Letter for PEER - Job Vacancies
(PDF Document, 64.86 KB)